Errors of Judgment(87)

The next few minutes were mayhem. Two other male neighbours woken by the row came down from the floor above. Vince and his friends were too drunk to put up a proper fight, and after much barging, tussling and a few erratically thrown punches, they were forcefully ejected from the building.

Out on the pavement they swayed and swore for a while, then eventually wandered off into the night.

On the landing by Felicity’s front door lay a carrier bag containing the Christmas presents Vince had bought in the market, and the remains of a half-eaten kebab.





CHAPTER EIGHTEEN




On Christmas Day, Sarah came downstairs at eleven o’clock to find Leo wrapping Oliver’s Christmas present on the kitchen table.

‘Merry Christmas,’ said Leo. ‘Coffee’s on.’

‘Thanks. Merry Christmas to you, too.’ She poured herself some coffee. ‘You want a cup?’

Leo shook his head. ‘I’m meant to be at Rachel’s in half an hour. Oliver’s putting off opening his presents till I get there.’

‘What have you got for him?’

‘A Playmobil fire station. Rachel’s got him the fire engine. The trouble is, the box is so big that it’s not easy to wrap,’ said Leo, wrestling with the roll of paper.

‘Cut another piece. Here …’ Sarah took the scissors and deftly cut another piece from the roll and wrapped it round the end of the box. ‘Pass me the Sellotape. There. And the other end. See?’

‘I’m not much of a hand at wrapping things. Lack of practice.’

‘That’s the first time I’ve ever heard you admit that there’s something you’re not good at.’

‘How are you spending the day?’ asked Leo, suddenly wondering if she was going to be there all on her own.

‘I intend to do nothing for the next few hours, beyond soaking in a long, hot bath and contemplating my future. I had rather a heavy night …’

‘So I gather, given that it was well past three when I heard you come in.’

‘Sweet. You sound like my father,’ smiled Sarah. ‘With whom I happen to be spending the rest of the day. I’m helping him cook Christmas dinner for some of his friends. Just hope they’re not all fossils. Are you going to be at Rachel’s all day?’

‘Till six or so. Some people in Kensington have invited me for drinks, but it’s only a loose arrangement.’ Gabrielle had been insistent that he should meet the rest of her family, but he was still in two minds about going. ‘If I do go, I won’t hang about for long.’

Sarah poured herself a cup of coffee. ‘Right. Well, have a lovely day. I’m off for a bath. Oh, something I’ve been meaning to tell you, but I haven’t seen you since Thursday – I’ve got a new job.’

‘Really? Where?’

‘London and International Insurance Brokers Association. On the legal side.’

Leo paused in the doorway. ‘Well done.’ He wondered if this was the moment to say something about the way things had been over the past few weeks, to explain that he understood, and that he was there if she wanted him – in whatever way. It seemed sad that their relationship had reached this odd stalemate. ‘So …’

‘So I’ll be out of your hair in a couple of weeks.’

‘Right.’ He paused. ‘Well, congratulations.’ Then he added, ‘By the way, there’s something for you under the Christmas tree.’

Sarah raised an eyebrow, trying not to look pleased. ‘So Santa’s been?’ She smiled. ‘I left your present there, too.’

‘So I saw. I intend to open it later.’

‘OK – see you whenever.’

When Leo had gone, Sarah wandered into the living room. She crouched down under the tree – a tree which had been bought largely for the satisfaction of Oliver, for whom Christmas, and everything pertaining to it, was sacred. Her present to Leo and his to her were the only ones there. Sarah knelt there for a moment, staring at the two gifts, thinking how empty their lives were in some ways, hers and Leo’s. Neither of them had ever known anything else, she supposed. No siblings, few relatives, or not enough that cared, friends whose loyalties did not extend to the intimacies of gifts. It would have been different with Toby. She pictured how it would be at the Kitterings house in Surrey, and closed her eyes. No doubt they were all happy together, relieved at Toby’s lucky escape, reassured in the knowledge that she really hadn’t been good enough for their precious, golden boy. She wondered if she’d ever be good enough for anyone. She opened her eyes, and picked up the present from Leo and unwrapped it. Inside was a Tiffany box. She untied the white ribbon. Inside the box was a little blue suede pouch. She untied the pouch and drew out a delicate chain necklace studded with three tiny diamonds. She held it up to the light, letting it slide through her fingers. Enough to make a girl think she was good enough for someone, after all. But the fact was that Leo was seeing someone else, and he wasn’t even brave enough – or kind enough – to tell her. Even the nicest present couldn’t change that.